One of the greatest midfielders that had ever played for FC Barcelona, Xavier Hernández, simply called Xavi, said he is ready to return to the La Liga giant as the manager of the club but he wants to be free to make his own decisions at the club.
Since Barcelona suffered a Spanish Super Cup defeat to one of its rivals, Atletico Madrid in January, there have been reports that the management of the club has been having talks with Xavi.
The midfielder who is currently the head coach of Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd was the likely replacement of Ernesto Valverde who was sacked in January due to poor run of games and replaced by Quique Setien until 2022.
But the fear of Xavi who spent almost all his active years as a footballer in Barcelona (1998 to 2015), was, being controlled by some powers within the club and he wouldn’t want to operate under such an atmosphere.
Xavi’s fear proved right the long-held myth by a number of fans that coaches in the club are being controlled by some forces within the club. Many often accuse Lionel Messi of being the leader of such a group that likes to dictate to the club coaches.
“I am clear that I want to return to Barcelona, I am very excited,” Xavi said in an interview with La Vanguardia.
“Now that I have seen myself coaching I think I can bring things to the players. But I made it clear to them that I saw myself in a project that started from zero and in which the decision-making was mine.”
Xavi Hates Bad Blood
On making his own decisions, he noted that he does not have a problem with anyone in the team but he does not want toxic people around his team.
He added that: “I don’t hide, I don’t take it back. I would like to work together with people in whom I have confidence, with whom there is loyalty and who are very valid people. There can’t be anyone toxic around the dressing room.”
On Barcelona needing more players, the 40-year-old former Spanish international believes that the club doesn’t need too many new players. He said if necessary, the only players the club should add to its payroll should be Jadon Sancho and Serge Gnabry.
